In This Very Room

Here is a devotional that I read this morning and found very encouraging!


"Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'  When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.  Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you!  As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.'  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'  Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said to him, 'We have seen the Lord.'  So he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.'  And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them.  Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace to you!'  Then He said to thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.  Do not be unbelieving,  believing.'  And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'  Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'
John 20:19-29

     At our church we often sing the beautiful song by Ron and Carol Harris: "In This Very Room."  It begins, "In this very room there's quite enough love for one like me."  This song reminds me that although there is great encouragement in gathering with other Christians for worship, the important thing is that Christ is present.  But it goes beyond that.  He is with us not just at church but in every room of our lives.
     I wonder where you're reading this-a kitchen, a coffee shop, a prison cell, a military post?  Perhaps you're in a hospital or a courtroom.  It may be a room that reflects everything thats right in your life or a place that represents all thats wrong.  And you might be afraid.
     In the aftermath of the awful reality of Jesus' crucifixion, His followers met in a familiar room.  John records that "when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood  in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you' "(John 20:19).  A week later it happened again where Jesus entered through locked doors to bring peace through His presence.
     Wherever you are today, "There's quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom, for Jesus, Lord Jesus, is in this very room."-David McCasland
     "When in the midst of life with its problems, bent with our toil and burdens we bear; wonderful thought and deep consolation:  Jesus is always there." -Lillenas



  

Caricature God

I was having my Bible study this morning and wanted to share one of the devotions that I read with you.  We will start with reading Exodus 34:1-9.   

"And the Lord said to Moses, 'Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke.  So be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself to Me there on the top of the mountain.  And no man shall come up with you, and let no man be seen throughout all the mountain; let neither flocks nor herds feed before the mountain.'  So he cut two tablets of stone like the first ones.  Then Moses rose early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him; and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone.  Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.  and the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and fourth generation.'  So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth and worshipped.  Then he said, 'If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.' "

Caricature artists set up their easels in public places and draw pictures of people who are willing to pay a modest price for a humorous image of themselves.  Their drawings amuse us because they exaggerate one or more of our physical features in a way that is recognizable but funny.

Caricatures of God, on the other hand, are not funny.  Exaggerating one of His attributes presents a distorted view that people easily dismiss.  Like a caricature, a distorted view of God is not taken seriously.  Those who see God portrayed only as an angry and demanding judge are easily lured away by someone who emphasizes mercy.  Those who see God as a kind-hearted grandfather will reject that image when they need justice.  Those who see God as an intellectual idea rather than a living, loving being eventually find other ideas more appealing.  Those who see God as a best friend often leave Him behind when they find human friends who are more to their liking.

God declares Himself to be merciful and gracious, but also just in punishing the guilty (Exodus 34: 6-7).

As we put our faith into action, we need to avoid portraying God as having only our favorite attributes.  We must worship all of God, not just what we like.  

What it means to be Courageous!

Hello everyone! Below is another speech  I wrote, that I felt God laid on my heart to share with you all.  I will also add some scripture and a little more insight that I thought of when I wrote this down.  Enjoy! 

There is a true story of a young girl who was suddenly thrust into a contest, and because of her beauty and outstanding character, was chosen to become queen of a vast kingdom.  During this time, she hid the secret of being a Jew in her heart, but when a crisis struck she was faced with two decisions.  She could either expose the fact that she was a Jew, in order to save her people from annihilation: even though she might lose her life in the process; or she could stay quiet and hope that deliverance would arise elsewhere.  After spending time in prayer and fasting, Queen Esther chose to go to the king and tell him everything as well as to plead for the lives of the Jews.  Now you have to realize that even though she is queen, she doesn't get to see the king whenever she wants to.  In order to gain entrance in the great hall, you must be summoned or else you would perish, as was the law of the time.  Knowing this, Esther still obeys God and goes before the king saying, "If I perish, I perish."  

Well, we may not all be facing such a dire situation as this, but we will all most assuredly have our courage tested throughout our lifetime.  In this post, I wish to stress to you all how important courage is for everyone to have and where courage comes from.
      You see, there is a problem in our world today, in which the people would much rather run and hide when they are faced with trials and testing, instead of using courage to face them head on.  Does this mean that we will not have any fear at all when we go through trials?  Of course not!  As Mark Twain said, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather it is taking action in spite of our fear."  There is another good quote by a cowboy we know as John Wayne, "Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway."  
      Now you may be asking yourself what is the meaning of courage. So I will tell you what I found out after doing some research.  According to the American Heritage Dictionary, courage is the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger or trials with self-possession, confidence, and resolution.  
      There is a great need in our world for people to be willing to stand out and be courageous.  After all, where would we be if it wasn't for all the courageous men and women throughout history?  If you were to go around and ask others what kind of people built our nation, they are probably not going to say it was cowards who lacked faith and courage.  No! They are going to tell you that our nation was built by the sweat and blood of courageous men and women who stood and fought for what they believed in no matter what the cost.
      The Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776, in order that we might have freedom.  Fifty-six brave men proudly signed the Declaration knowing that they would pay the price for doing so.  What happened to those men who signed a document that was considered treason to the crown?  They became targets for British vengeance, and for some, their lives were filled with risk and danger that would take great courage to endure.
      Thomas Jefferson barely escaped from the British when they sought to capture members of the assembly.  George Clymer and his family suffered after a group of British soldiers attacked their home and left it in disarray.  Francis Lewis suffered a similar fate as well as having his wife taken prisoner for many months and because of confinement, she died a year or two after her release.  His son was also taken prisoner  and died in captivity.    These are only a few of many true stories about the sufferings of the men and their families who were courageous enough to endure the hardships and sufferings so that we would be free.

      Whether it will be something big or small, we will find ourselves in need of some type of courage.  You see, courage does not just mean you have to perform a heroic deed.  It takes courage to say no when someone is tempting us to do or say something we know goes against what we believe in; to confront a friend when they are doing something wrong; to face up to things we've done wrong in our lives; to stand up for the truth even if we're outnumbered; and it takes persistent courage to stay strong in our faith in God when it seems like the whole world is against us.  

      The Bible says in Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified.  Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  It is important to remember when we are going through trials and testing that God is a faithful and loving God who keeps His word.  So, if God says that He is always with us, then indeed He is.  There is a poem by John B. Gough that goes along with what I have been saying. 

If a man stands for the right and truth,

though every man's finger be pointed at him in scorn,

he stands in a majority;

for God and good angels are with him,

and greater are they that are for him than they that are against him

I know how easy it is to become discouraged when facing hardships and trials, and I am not just saying that to prove my point either.  I have gone through some difficult situations where it would seem so easy to just walk away and not courageously stand up and fight back.  That is when we need to pray and ask god to give us the courage to overcome instead of being overcome.

      Now some people might say, "Well why don't you just walk away from these trials and forget about the problem?  It is much more comfortable that way."  let me give you an example of what might happen if we just walk away.  Let's say there was a knight who went to war, but when he arrives at the actual battle, he sees that the enemy outnumbers his comrades and becomes afraid.  He can either let fear rule and run away, or he can stay and fight despite his fear.  It would be safe to say that if he chooses to run away; the minute his enemies see his back to them, they would probably shoot him in the back in order to try and kill him.  If, however, he shows courage and stays to fight, he will be able to see his enemy better, and have a chance to dodge the arrows that come his way.  

      More than likely, we are going to go through some pretty hard times and it is going to take courage from God to endure to the end.  1 Corinthians 16:13 says, "Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."

      Just like Esther who showed amazing courage; when we seek God for direction and courage, He will answer us.  Now I ask you this, "Would you be willing to courageously stand up for the cause we believe in, even though we knew that doing so meant the loss of friends, money, position, family, or even our very lives?"

     

The True Reason For Easter

As Easter approaches, it becomes a time of remembrance of what Christ did for us.  Sadly, the real reason for Easter has often been pushed aside and instead the idea of the Easter bunny and egg hunts has replaced it.  We must remember that the real reason we celebrate Easter is because Christ died and then rose from the dead!

     It has always amazed me that God would send His only son to us so that we would be saved.  The suffering and agony that Christ went through for us is heartbreaking.  He was persecuted, mocked, beaten, bruised, spat upon, and crucified.   What Christ did on the cross has never ceased to amaze me because it makes me realize that God loves us so much that He was willing to suffer and die for us sinners.  There is no exemption to who can and can't be saved.  It does not matter what you have done in the past, for no sin is to great that God will not forgive you if you ask Him into your heart.  He is waiting with open arms for you to come running into them.

Below is the true story taken from a NKJV Bible of why we celebrate Easter.  

Matthew 28

"Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.  And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his clothes as white as snow.  And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.  But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.  Come see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him.  Behold I have told you.'  So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.  And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!'  So they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him.  Then Jesus said to them, ' Do not be afraid.  Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.'  Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.  When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, 'Tell them, His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.  And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure."  So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.  When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted.  And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Easter is not a time to mourn, but rather to Rejoice!  For Christ has defeated death, and sits at the right hand of God!  

Whose Footsteps Are You Following?

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me ;

and where I am, there My servant will be also.

If anyone serves Me , him My Father will honor.

John 12:26

       Everyone on Earth serves someone or something-and no one is an exception .  Either we will serve God (by following Him) or not .  In the final analysis , whom you serve determines whom you become like .    

      Who are you going to walk with today?  Are you going to walk with people who worship the ways of the world?  Or are you going to walk with Jesus Christ?  Jesus walks with you.  Are you walking with Him?  Hopefully, you will choose to walk with Him today and for every day of your life.

And do not be conformed to this world ,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind ,

that you may prove what is that good

and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2

He has shown you , O man ,
what is good ;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly ,
To love mercy ,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8

      In Micah 6:8 where it says, "And what does the Lord require of you..", the word require in Hebrew is a command not a suggestion.   So what it really is saying is, "And what does the Lord command of you..."    Now what is it that the lord requires or commands us to do in this verse?  Well it says that we are to, "...do justly, to love mercy...".    Justice--be fair to others and treat them as you would want to be treated.    Mercy-a kindly abatement of what we might justly demand. Do not just show mercy, but love to show it.  Give others the same measure of mercy you wish to be shown.  Then we are told to, "walk humbly with your God."  If we remember who God is and how awesome He is, then we will be able to have a humble heart.  

“I would not advise any of you to try to be humble, but to be humble. As to acting humbly, when a man forces himself to it, that is poor stuff. When a man talks a great deal about his humility, when he is very humble to everybody, he is generally a canting hypocrite. Humility must be in the heart, and then it will come out spontaneously as the outflow of life in every act that a man performs.” (Spurgeon)

“True humility is thinking rightly of thyself, not meanly. When you have found out what you really are, you will be humble, for you are nothing to boast of. To be humble will make you safe. To be humble will make you joyful. To be humble will make music in your heart when you go to bed. To be humble here will make you wake up in the likeness of your Master by-and-by.” (Spurgeon)

      

      Today provides another glorious opportunity to put yourself in the service and follow the One who was whipped, beaten, bruised, pierced, and died for you.  May you seek His will, may you trust His word, and may you walk in His footsteps-now and forever.

  

Being In the Center of God's Will

Below is a speech that I wrote and gave to some friends and family, that I hope will speak to your heart the way that it did mine.

              Whether you know it or not, God has a plan and a purpose for your life and the lives of everyone around you.  Now when God reveals those plans to us, we are faced with a choice.  We must decide if we are going to sit around and ignore God's will for us, or are we going to fully embrace it with a burning desire to follow God in our hearts.  Five young men were faced with this choice and the decision they made would change the lives of their families and enemies forever.

             I'd like to show you the obedience, courage, and sacrifice that was evident throughout the lifetime of Jim Elliot.  By examining Jim's life, I hope to reveal to you the importance of being in God's will, even if it means that we have to sacrifice everything.

            The problem in today's society is that people don't want anyone telling them how to live their lives.  They are comfortable where they are at and do not want that to change.  In fact, there are not many who are willing to be in the center of God's will and even less who are willing to sacrifice for it.  They do not seem to understand the full impact of what Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."  In other words, why worry about our carnal body, when it will indeed pass away, but our soul will live on forever.

               Jim Elliot was born in Portland, Oregon during the year 1927.  When he was just 6 years of age, he asked Christ into his heart and had a burning desire to serve God with his whole being.  At 18, he attended Wheaton College, where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Howard.  A few years later he was called by God to become a missionary to Ecuador.  He made the choice to follow God, and leave his fiance, Elizabeth, behind.  After a long wait Elizabeth joined him in 1953, and became his wife.  He was then assigned the fateful mission of reaching the fierce Auca tribe with the gospel.  After months of persistently dropping gifts to the tribe by plane, in order to prove that they were friends and earn their trust, Jim and four other men, Peter Fleming, Ed Mcully, Nate Saint, and Roger Youderian, decided it was time to meet the tribe face-to-face.  When Elizabeth asked him not to go because of danger, Jim simply replied, "I am called".  On January 8, 1956, Jim and his four friends were murdered by a group of Auca Indians, who had no love for outsiders, leaving behind five widows and nine children.  The outcome of these martyred lives you may ask, was that many of the Auca tribe came to believe in Christ and build friendships with the families of those five men.  Also it sparked the coming of missionaries who became determined to reach out to the lost.
             If Jim had not listened to God's call, those Auca Indians may not have come to Christ and their horrible lifestyle would have continued all of their lives.  As Jim said, "There is sheer joy of being in the will of God and the knowledge of His direction".  The Bible says in 1 John 2:17, "And the world is passing away, but he who does the will of God abides forever."  So I ask you this, "Are you in the center of God's will and would you be willing to sacrifice everything, even your very life for it?"